Counter attachment



June24, 1930; A. VANDERV'ELDETAL 1 1,761 823;

COUNTER ATTACHMENT F-iled May 7, 1928 and motifs" Maw g .orms

hatented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE ANTHONY VANDERVELD AND EDMUND MORRIS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN,

ASSIGNORS TO GRAND RAPIDS STORE EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, OF GRAND RAP- IDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN COUNTER ATTACHMENT Application filed May 7,

This invention relates to a counter attachment being particularly concerned with a novel construction for application to the top of a counter, table or the like used in stores for the purpose of dividing the counter space into a plurality of bins or compartments in which articles of merchandise are held for display and sale.

The space over the counter is divided by means of glass partitions into such compartments and my invention is directed to a novel construction whereby the space may be divided into bins or compartments of any desired size, there being provision for quickly and easily adjusting the glass partitions which extend across the top, whereby they may be spaced any desired distance and a further provision for the adjustable installation of glass dividing partitions to ex tend between the partitions first mentioned, this permitting the sub-division of the counter space into compartments of preferred sizes.

The invention consists of various novel constructions for attaining the ends stated in a practical and economical manner as will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective and section showing a part of a top having my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through one of the channel guides located adjacent each longitudinal edge of the top and illustrating one of the partition holding members in the act of being applied to .or taken from its guide. I

3 is a similar View showing the partition holding member engaged with the ch annel.

Fig. 4; is a side elevation of the partition holding member.

Fig. 5 is a plan view and Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the cross partition holding devices used to hold the short dividing glass partitions between the main partitions, and

Fig, 7 is a plan view similar to Fig, 5,

5\ e g a 192 s. Serial no. 275,842.

showing another form of the partition holder.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

The top 1 of a table or counter is equipped at its side and end edges with vertical border members 2 which extend upwardly above the upper surface of the top and are associated with suitable corner posts 3. The specific 'detail of the corner post construction and the side and end border members and their attachment thereto forms no part'of the present invention and is not described.

At each longitudinal edge of the table 'a sheet metal channel guide is located and secured. The guide has a bottom 4, is turned upwardly at its side edges and then bent back making the inturned lips or flanges 5. The longitudinal edge portions of the top 1 are rabbeted to receive the channel guide so that the upper sides of the flanges 5 are in the same plane with the upper side of the top 1. While the channel is shown as located at a longitudinal edge of the top 1, it is not necessary that it be located directly at the edge but can be set in a short distance without in any way afi'ecting or changing the invention.

A plurality of partition holders are adjustably mounted in the channel guides. Each of the partition holders is made from a length of sheet metal bent into U-form and at its ends terminating in the outturned flanges 6 and 7, of the shape best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The lip 6 is turned outwardly substantially at right angles to the leg of the partition member with which it is integral, while the other lip 7 is formed into a U-bend, as shown, fitting the channel guide and bearing against the bottom 4 and a lip 5; as shown in Fig.1 3i The partition member is vertically slotted from its upper end nearly til the upper end is reached where it iswidened by cutting away the portions at -9 from the inner edges of the upper ends of the legs 10 formed when the slot 8 is made in the member. The partition members described are of spring material and their lower ends tend -to spring away from each other and thus snugly engage the opposite securely with respect to the top 1 over which they are located. This divides the space above the top and within the boundary of the side members 2 into'a plurality of spaces,

g each equal in length to*the width of the top and having any desired width defined by the distances that the partition holding members are located apart inthe channel guides 4.

The space between any two partitions or between a partition and an end member 2 may be sub-divided by glass partitions disposed between the cross partitions and said end members. In accomplishing this result a plurality of members of sheet metal are used, each having'a fiatbase 12 from which, at four equally spaced apart points around the same, or at the corners of the base spring fingers 13 are provided which extend upwardly, taper slightly inwardly toward each other and at their upper ends are formed with outwardly bent guide lips 14. The fingers define two grooves or channels 15 crossing each other at right angles in which glass partition plates may be received. The base 12, at spaced apart points around it, is provided with downturned tangs 1G for insertion into the top 1 thereby securing the members against accidental movement over the top. These members are used at desired points in the length of the partitions 11, any partition 11 with which one of the members is used passing through one of the guide spaces 15 and all of the fingers 13 bearing against it. The dividing partitions 17 are of a length equal to the distance between any two adjacent partitions 11, their ends abut against the sides of said partitions 11 and are received between two of the fingers 13 at the side of partition 11 where the dividing partition 17 is located.

- This is fully illustrated in Fig. 1.

The member shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is used when the space at both sides of a partition 11 is to be divided in the same manner, that is, the dividing partitions 17 in such case will lie in alinement. For a variation in the manner of dividing the space, a slightly different form of partition holding member is shown in Fig. 7, wherein the base 12 has two fingers 13 extending upwardly at two of its corners and has a wider finger 13 extending upwardly from its opposite edge thereby defining one long glass receiving channel 15 and one branch channel 15' at right angles thereto. shown in Fig. l, is used in conjunction with a cross partition 11 where the dividing partition 17 is not to be continued on at the opposite side of the partition 11 to the vertical end member 2.

It is, of course, apparent that a large number of the partition holding members both of the types shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and of the type shown in Fig. 7 may be and are likely to be used in sub-dividing the counter or table space into merchandise receiving bins or compartments. The con- This member, as

struction described is available for making a division of the counter space into a great many bins or compartments of many and varied sizes. The sheet metal elements used are of simple design and construction, can be manufactured at very low cost and are particularly effective for the purposes for which they are used.

While the partition holding members have been shown as disposed in direct engagement with the top 1 and underneath the glass partitions, it is evident that the members shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 may be readily applied at the upper edges of the partitions. For instance, if an installation has been applied to a counter top and it is desired to put in additional dividing partitions 17 it is not necessary to raise the main partitions 11 above the top and introduc the partition holders underneath the same but the dividing partitions 17 may be properly located and then by inverting the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 or in Fig. 7 and forcing the same down at the ends of said dividing partitions it will be securely held in place. Of course, in such case the tangs 16 would not be used on the partition holding member.

There are many changes in constructive detail which may be resorted to without-departing from theinvention. Accordingly we do not wish to be limited to the particular specific disclosure made but consider our invention comprehensive of all formsof structure coming within the scope of the appended claims defining the invention.

We claim: v

1. In combination with a top for a counter, a channel guide attached to said top and a partition holder associated with said channel guide comprising a body having a por tion located in said channel guide and adapted to be moved longitudinally therein, said portion having yieldable frictional engagement with the sides of said guide and means on saidbody for holding a partition.

2. In combination with a top for a counter, a channelguide attached to said top and a partition holder associated with said channel guide comprising a body having a portion.

removably located in said channel guide and adapted to be moved longitudinally therein, said portion having yieldabl frictional engagement with the sides of said guide and means on said body for holding a partition.

3. A device of the class described comprising a longitudinal guide member and a partional inwardly,

tition holder associated therewith comprising, an inverted U-shaped body member of spring material having its ends located in said guide member and adjustable longitudinally thereof, said ends being held in frictional engagement with the sides of the guide member by the tension of said spring material and said body member being adapted to receive a partition.

4. A device of the class described, COIYM prising a longitudinal guide member and a partition holder associated therewith comprising, an inverted U-shaped body member of spring material having its ends located in said guide member and adjustable longitudinally thereof said ends being held in frictional engagement with the sides of the guide member by the tension of said spring material, said body being bifurcated to receive and hold a partition.

5. A device of the class described comprising a longitudinal guide member and a partition holder associated therewith comprising, an inverted U-shaped body member of spring material having its ends located in said guid member and adjustable longitudinally thereof, said ends being held in fricengagement with the sides of the guide member by the tension of said spring material, said body being bifurcated at its upper end to receive and hold a partition.

6. In a device of the class described, a channel guide member having the upper edges of its respective sides turned inwardly and a partition holder associated therewith comprising a body member having legs mounted for yieldable movement toward each other, said legs having outwardly turned portions adapted to be inserted into said channel member beneath the said inturned edges thereof or to be removed therefrom by moving the legs toward each other and said body member being slotted to receive a partition. i

7. In a device of the class described, a longitudinal channelguide member having the upper edges of its respective sides turned and a partition holder associated therewith comprising a U-shaped member of spring material having the ends of its respective legs turned outwardly whereby they may be inserted in said channel uide beneath said inturned edges thereof by movement of said legs toward each other and said U-shapcd member being adapted to re ceive a partition.

' 8. In a device of the class described, a longitudinal channel. guide member having .moveinent of said legs toward each the upper edges of its respective sides turned inwar ly, and a partition holder associated therewith comprising a U-shaped member of spring material having the ends of its respective legs turned outwardly whereby they may be inserted in said channel guide beneath said inturned edges thereof by movement of said legs toward each other, said U-shaped member being bifurcated to receive and hold a partition.

9. In a device of the class described, a longitudinal channel guide member having the upper edges of its respective sides turned inwardly, and a partition holder associated therewith comprising a U-shaped member of spring material having the ends of its respective legs turned outwardly whereby they may be inserted in said channel ide beneath said inturned edges thereo by other, said U-shaped member being bifurcated at its folded portion toward its respective ends to receive and hold a partition.

In testimony whereof we afix our signatures.

ANTHONY VANDERVELD. EDMUND MURRIS. 

